01 - How might teaching debate skills help us navigate polarizing conversations?
I met Scott Stirrett in 2016, and have been impressed with his tenacity, curiosity, drive and kindness since then.
Scott is the CEO and Founder of Venture for Canada - a national charity focused on accelerating the entrepreneurialism of young Canadians. He is participating in Action Canada - a 10-month public policy leadership program with a 17-year track that aims to enhance emerging leaders’ understanding of the country and public policy choices for the future.
In December 2022, Scott contributed an opinion piece to the Globe and Mail entitled, "Teaching debate skills will strengthen democracy". The first paragraph reads as such:
Increasing political and ideological polarization poses a significant threat to Canadian democracy and society. From climate change to a looming global recession, Canada faces immense challenges, which require thoughtful and nuanced discussions. Too often issues of national importance devolve into shouting matches and personal attacks.
I asked Scott to join me for the first official episode of Polarizing Conversations to consider how learning debate skills - whether as youth in school, in our workplaces as part of professional development, or in our homes might help us have these nuanced discussions instead of the shouting matches and personal attacks that seem all-too-common lately in the media. Debate skills, in life outside of competition, don't have to be applied to win - they teach us to listen deeply, requiring us to become curious (and therefore less judgemental). Join us for this deep conversation about our journeys navigating polarizing conversations.
If you liked this episode, our next episode will be coming out in 2 weeks on February 8th!
